Chapter 16
As soon as the Crown Prince left, Iris immediately summoned Jack.
While poking at Crow, who was playing in the flowerbed, and feeding it some nuts, the clever raven quickly took flight into the sky.
“So, you’re going to Veveria?”
Not long after sending Crow, Jack appeared like a ghost and asked.
Iris was sprawled on the sofa, flipping through a travel magazine.
“It seems he has some business there. I’m just going to help out a bit and do some sightseeing.”
“What could you possibly help with?”
“There’s plenty, you woman-loving wizard.”
At Iris’s curt remark, Jack’s face instantly twisted into a frown.
“Harmia Veveria?”
“Hm?”
It was quite unexpected that the wizard’s name came out of his mouth.
Iris, who had been skimming through tourism information about Veveria, squinted one eye and looked at Jack.
“How do you know that name?”
“No, isn’t it weirder that *you* know it?”
At Jack’s retort, Iris gazed at the ceiling for a moment, lost in thought.
Come to think of it, since Jack seemed to go around gathering information, it might be stranger for an ordinary person like her to know about a wizard from another kingdom.
“The Crown Prince told me.”
She flashed a bright smile, pinning the blame on the Crown Prince.
Jack gave her a suspicious look but soon nodded as if convinced.
It was information the Crown Prince would naturally know, after all.
“Veveria’s wizards usually live in seclusion, so it’s hard to know their names. Don’t go around acting like you know something.”
“Whatever.”
Iris brushed off Jack’s words and flipped another page of the magazine.
Even without his warning, she had no intention of blabbing about it anywhere.
‘I only remember because she’s the heroine’s ally. I don’t even recall the rest.’
She gulped down the cold tea that had been sitting on the table and glanced at Jack. He was sitting across from her, deep in thought about something.
“What’s got you thinking so seriously?”
“This won’t do.”
“What?”
“I’m coming along on this trip.”
At that, Iris furrowed her brow.
“What are you going to do by tagging along?”
“I can’t figure out what that Crown Prince is thinking. I’ll go as your attendant.”
“What does the Crown Prince’s thoughts have to do with you?”
“The more information, the better. Just know that.”
“Ugh, fine. Do whatever you want, but don’t get caught and make things awkward for me.”
“I’m better at this than you are.”
“We leave in three days.”
Iris shrugged it off and went back to her magazine.
The Kingdom of Veveria, surrounded by forests.
In the center of the kingdom was a large lake, its scenery under the moonlight said to resemble a mirror, earning it the name Mirror Lake.
“A must-visit world landmark before you die.”
She planned to travel freely once this matter was settled, but visiting beforehand didn’t seem like a bad idea either.
For the first time in a while, she felt quite excited.
* * *
Three days later.
“Are you all prepared?”
His Highness the Crown Prince himself came to her estate to pick her up.
Iris looked at the seemingly endless procession of carriages lined up in front of the estate with a weary expression.
“No wonder the people below you are so busy every time you move.”
“Haha, true. But that means we get to be comfortable.”
“That’s why power is great.”
She was dressed in a simple travel dress.
Since the Kingdom of Veveria was in the warm southern region, she had chosen a hat woven from straw and light, airy clothing to match.
The Crown Prince gave Iris a peculiar look before shifting his gaze to her side.
“And this is?”
“Oh, he’s a short-term hired servant and attendant. Feel free to use him as you like.”
“Servant and attendant? What an odd phrase.”
“He doubles as a bodyguard. He doesn’t have a knight’s title, but he knows a few self-defense techniques, so he’s somewhat useful.”
“Well, if you need him, it’s not hard to bring him along.”
The Crown Prince’s gaze swept over Jack, who was standing beside her.
Jack tactfully lowered his eyes and bowed to the Crown Prince.
“…He looks more like he should be a mercenary than a servant.”
“Don’t say that. He’s already self-conscious about his appearance.”
At Iris’s words, Jack shot her an incredulous look, but she merely shrugged and extended her hand to the Crown Prince.
“Tch.”
The Crown Prince took Iris’s outstretched hand, helping her climb into the carriage, then looked at Jack with a hint of pity.
Jack briefly considered punching the Crown Prince, or anyone for that matter, but ultimately held back.
As Iris and the Crown Prince rode in the grand carriage, Jack followed alongside on horseback.
Sandwiched among the knights escorting the Crown Prince, it was anything but comfortable.
“He seems skilled at riding.”
The Crown Prince, watching Jack from inside the carriage, remarked to Iris.
She had brought a book to keep herself entertained during the journey and was just opening it.
“Does he?”
Iris responded indifferently to the Crown Prince’s comment about Jack’s riding skills, as if she hadn’t noticed.
“You don’t seem to know much about him.”
“I know what I need to. Employer and employee—that’s the extent of it. Do I need to know more?”
“If you’re keeping him close, shouldn’t you know a bit more?”
“Following Your Highness means dedicating everything to you, but following me just means getting paid for the work done.”
“….”
The Crown Prince looked at Iris with a bewildered expression.
She snapped her book shut and moved to sit beside him.
“What’s…”
“By the way, what business do you have with Veveria’s wizard? I came along because you said you needed my help, but I need to know something to actually help, don’t I?”
At her words, the Crown Prince crossed his arms and pondered for a moment.
Perhaps realizing she was in this with him, he soon spoke.
“You remember how the Kingdom of Cecil recently staged a rebellion and was subdued, right?”
“Ah.”
“I have to visit them in person for negotiations.”
“Aha.”
She roughly pieced together what was going on.
‘So he had to visit the heroine’s kingdom first. The novel started with the heroine being taken hostage to the empire, so I didn’t know.’
“What does that have to do with the wizard?”
“Though the rebellion was quelled, the Crown Prince of that kingdom is still missing. He could be sharpening his blade somewhere.”
“So, you’re going to get a protective magic artifact or something?”
“Protective magic?”
The Crown Prince laughed.
“I’m going to request a tracking spell.”
“That’s kind of scary.”
“You have to nip these things in the bud.”
“Oh, I don’t know anything about scary stuff like that. Do as you please.”
She exaggerated a shudder and promptly returned to her seat across from him, opening her book again.
The Crown Prince let out a wry chuckle at her brazen attitude.
What a funny woman, as always.
After a day, then two, spent camping through the nights, the Crown Prince’s party finally reached a decent village on the fourth day.
“Perphone, the closest village south of the capital.”
“It’s bigger than I expected.”
“You have to pass through here to get to the capital.”
Iris gazed out the carriage window at the lively village scenery.
Having always gone to the eastern port towns for honeymoons, a southern village was a new experience.
“What about accommodations?”
“They’re already arranged.”
Thanks to a loyal retainer who had booked every stop along the Crown Prince’s route, they had reserved an entire hotel, the largest in the village, for their use.
“My goodness, this is a first for me.”
“Even so, I have to give you at least this much experience to uphold the dignity of royalty, don’t I?”
The Crown Prince stepped out of the carriage first and extended his hand to Iris. When she took it, he kissed the back of her hand before helping her down.
“….”
And Jack watched the scene with a look as if he’d seen something repulsive.
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By Anna 💓
